We identified a novel gene, Ks-1, which is expressed
preferentially in the small-type Kenyon cells of the honeybee
brain. This gene is also expressed in some of the large soma
neurons in the brain and in the suboesophageal ganglion. Reverse
transcription–polymerase chain reaction experiments indicated
that Ks-1 transcripts are enriched in the honeybee
brain. cDNA cloning revealed that the consensus Ks-1
cDNA is over 17 kbp and contains no significant open reading
frames. Furthermore, fluorescent in situ hybridization revealed
that Ks-1 transcripts are located in the nuclei of
the neural cells, accumulating in some scattered spots. These
findings demonstrate that Ks-1 encodes a novel class
of noncoding nuclear RNA and is possibly involved in the regulation
of neural functions.